backwards

Syllables: back·wards/ˈbækwɜːdz/US/ˈbækwɜɹdz/

backwards adjective: synonym of backward; see usage notes there. Also the third-person singular simple present indicative of backward.

Adjective

backwards (comparative more backwards, superlative most backwards)

Synonym of backward; see usage notes there.
- As I stand to address them they take a fearful step backwards with their hands outstretched in placating gestures.2015, Alain Robert, With Bare Hands, Maverick Publishing Limited
Synonyms:

backward

Adverb

backwards (comparative more backwards, superlative most backwards)

Synonym of backward; see usage notes there.
- The length of the stoppages could not well be reduced; indeed, they are already too short if we are to believe the tale now current of a wandering Jew sort of passenger—a lady of advanced years who can only alight from a train backwards. Every time she begins to get out a porter rushes up crying...1944 May and June, “When the Circle was Steam Operated”, in Railway Magazine, page 150
- My train back is a Class 800 bi-mode. These are not too bad, except for their awful seats - compared with the seats on the HST, they are a step backwards.2025 November 12, 'Mystery Shopper', “Is Devon the cream of the crop?”, in RAIL, number 1048, page 47
Synonyms:

backward

Also used as

backwards is also the third-person singular simple present indicative of backward.

Synonyms of backwards

backward

Forms of backwards

Adjective
comparative	more backwards
superlative	most backwards
Adverb
comparative	more backwards
superlative	most backwards

Origin of backwards

From backward + -s. See also -s (“used in the formation of certain adverbs: backwards, downwards, inwards, etc.”).

From Middle English bakwardis, bakwardis, a variant of Middle English bakwarde, bakward (“backward”). Equivalent to backward + -s. Compare Saterland Frisian bäkove (“backwards”).

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Words formed from backwards

Questions about backwards

What does backwards mean?: Backwards means synonym of backward; see usage notes there.
What part of speech is backwards?: Backwards can be an adjective or an adverb.
How do you pronounce backwards?: Backwards is pronounced /ˈbækwɜːdz/ (UK).

Words near backwards in the dictionary

Adapted from Wiktionary: backwards (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-backwards.wav.

Cite this entry: “backwards.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/backwards. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.